First Post - need help to identify

My first post to this forum but can assure you it won't be my last. I am in receipt of many flintlock, black powder and some other pistols which I know absolutely nothing about. I am however very eager to learn and document the history of each piece and am hopeful that the experts here will oblige by assisting in this endeavor.

My first pistol:

A flintlock

19 1/2" in total length

11 1/2" barrel

possible naval weapon (see photo)

Possible "Pottsdam ????" on side plate

Great condition (in my eyes)

Any assist to properly identify for documentation purposes would be greatly appreciated.

Well, that is no repro. Potsdam (now a suburb of Berlin) was a German gun making center from early on, but that marking looks odd, almost as if it were put there later. I would date that gun to around 1760, but am more than willing to be corrected by someone with better information. Searching for proof marks would probably be pointless for a gun that early, but you might turn up something.

The engraving on the plate would probably be the initials of the first owner.

The "engraving" in the lock plate, to me, looks like OTTOMAN - but why it would be in English rather than Turkish script doesn't ring true - unless it was a battle trophy and the owner wanted to mark it for posterity. ???? Very nice piece of work - especially the serpentine lock plate on the left side.
The engraved brass medallion seems to have some Turkic or Arabic influence, especially the crescent moons and the shape of the hilt on the saber/shamshir.

On taking a second look, I have to wonder if that marking is really "Potsdam." It could almost as easily be Rotterdam or some other name/city. For the moment, I would have to say it is of uncertain origin.

Attached Files:

It looks to be a Prussian Flintlock Cavalry Pistol ( 1731 Potzdam Model). After these pistols were manufactured several other nations began to copy this model type to include the British Dragoon model.

The complete inscription may be ''POTTSDAM MAGAZIN'' and the contractor/maker is shown by the small inscription on the edge of the lockplate - three characters indicating S and D or Splitgeber and Daum.

The engraved brass thumb plate bears the monogram for FR which is ''Friderius Rex'' whom we know as Frederick the Great. With this monogram, it is safe to suppose it was manufactured in his reign, 1740-1786.

There is a possibility that the actual date of manufacture is also on the lockplate - but hidden beneath the finial of the frizzen spring.

You are correct that there are models with the complete "Potzdam Magazine" engraving. This one is the earlier marking "Potzdam Magaz" with the, as you have stated, the "std" being the contractor. And as you have pointed out, the date could very well be behind the finial of the frizzen spring. I am guessing that this pistol was created 1731 based on the others similar to mine. This would put it at 280 years of age. WOW.... (I do realize there could be a +/- of 10 years in there.)

I am super excited on this find. In further reasearching possible value, the last auction of this pistol (in much poorer condition than mine) by Arms and Armour of England in June of 2006, the hammer price went for 2100 English Sterling pounds.

I have 6-10 additional percussion & flintlock pistols to research so yours and the other knowledgeable member's assistance is greatly appreciated.

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